Louisville coach Rick Pitino had expected to have big man Gorgui Dieng, a dominant defensive force and an All-American candidate, to be ready to go against rival Kentucky on Dec. 29.

Turns out, it was wishful thinking.

Gorgui Dieng won't be back in time to play Kentucky. (AP Photo)

Dieng, a 6-11 junior, has not played since breaking his left wrist while drawing a charge against Missouri on Nov. 23. He is doing individual work and on Sunday was cleared to practice with the team.

Pitino had hoped he could play a bit Saturday against WKU and then be ready for a full load in the Kentucky game on national TV.

“Gorgui’s latest exam with the doctor didn’t go as well as my optimism was,” Pitino told reporters Tuesday. “The last X-ray we thought it would be healed, and it was not.”

"Original estimates of doctors of 4-6 weeks were probably closer to right than my hope of 3-4 weeks.”

The coach did say that Dieng -- who averaged 8.2 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game – “is in excellent shape now” and that Jan. 2 Big East opener against Providence is the new target date for a return.